About Bench










Bench pricing
Bench does not have a free version but does offer a free trial. Bench paid version starts at US$349.00/month.
Alternatives to Bench
Bench Reviews for UK Users
Feature rating

- Industry: Marketing & Advertising
- Company size: 2–10 Employees
- Used Weekly for 6-12 months
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Review Source
Life and Business Changing
In the wake of COVID I left the agency I was at to do my own agency. While I had my business as a side-agency for a number of years and applications like Freshbooks and then Quickbooks Self-Employed helped me manage things I dreaded tax season and all the work I needed to do every year.
During COVID I had to get my business up and going, get clients, execute projects, and get things done. I had zero time for managing my books. When the end of the year came up I dreaded the work that was ahead of me with several big projects in progress. Then, through the service I use to pay my contractors, I found out about Bench and it has changed my business AND my life.
Bench took 15 months' worth of books that needed to be done and assigned them to a "catch-up" accountant. He went through everything, classified all my expenses, and had a simple way to ask me to review anything they need clarification on. They pulled difficult things to deal with like my processing fees from Stripe and instantly accounted for them. On top of that, having an honest to goodness accountant and accounting team to know how to PROPERLY set up a Chart of Accounts and classify expenses was game-changing. This service easily pays for itself in the time it saves me and the peace of mind it gives me.
Pros
- An accounting team to get me on track.
- Tax resources with their Bench Tax service.
- A beautiful interface that is easy to understand and use.
- Superb customer service with timely replies to any questions you have.
- An easy way to review anything your team needs clarification on, I rarely spend more than 5 minutes a month classifying expenses for them.
- EXPERTISE, Bench isn't just software to do your books, THEY are doing your books, understand small businesses and bring accounting expertise at a very affordable price.
- Completed my taxes easily and reduced my tax burden, it was the most painless tax process I've had in years.
Cons
- Communication early in Bench Tax could be improved but I mostly put this on me for being behind.
- Having a separate signon for Bench Tax is a bit of a pain but not a big deal.
Response from Bench Accounting
We appreciate you taking the time to share this positive experience with us, Guy! We're so happy to hear that the Bench platform, the expertise of your bookkeeping team, and timely client support have taken the burden of bookkeeping and tax filing off of your plate. Thank you for being with Bench, Guy!
- Industry: Construction
- Company size: 2–10 Employees
- Used Weekly for 2+ years
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Review Source
Nightmare! Terrible, unethical company!
Terrible, terrible, terrible. They did not make my life easier. They cost me money in lost time and lost access to reports. They made me pay for the year upfront; Sunk Cost Fallacy kept me there, and I have many regrets. Their Gaslighting makes you think you are the problem.
After a few years with them, I can say they will keep asking over and over for more categorization of the same items to keep you busy so you don't ask for reports.
They did not provide my final year-end report when I canceled their service, even though I paid for the year in advance. They told me it would be months after my tax filing deadline before I would receive it. I'm not counting those chickens.
Pros
It was easy to set up. That was the only good thing about Bench. But, you will have to set it up repeatedly because they remember almost nothing from report to report.
Cons
Everything! Bookkeepers change constantly. They seem to intentionally delay and avoid reports by telling you they need one more thing or someone has to finalize and review before they can give you a report. When you realize you never got your report (because small business owners are busy, you know!), you reach out again and it is as if you never asked them for anything. The process starts over, if it ever started to begin with.
- Industry: Financial Services
- Company size: 2–10 Employees
- Used Weekly for 2+ years
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Review Source
Bench - A rollercoaster designed by a clown – full of unexpected twists, turns, and a few too...
Oh, Bench, where do I begin? Our journey together has been like a rollercoaster designed by a clown – full of unexpected twists, turns, and a few too many pies in the face. From the magical year of 2020, we embarked on an adventure, not knowing it would turn into a saga worthy of its own sitcom. Our point of contact changed more often than a chameleon in a disco, each time promising a smooth transition that felt more like a game of hot potato. The nuances and complexities of our account were supposed to be handled with care, yet they were tossed around like a salad, leading to a delightful mix of confusion and misplaced assumptions. Let's not forget the enchanting dance of communication with our main Bench point of contact, our very own guide through this nightmare. Their performances were nothing short of spectacular, a blend of confusion, misinformation, and the occasional contradiction. It was like watching a mime trying to explain quantum physics – utterly baffling but strangely captivating.
If you like jokes, you should hear the one were they cancel tax fillings the week before they are due after months of working with their team to get everything reviewed and ready for filing. Their solution, leave your business hanging and waiting for updates and promises that never seem to come all while collecting their monthly billings and service fees but never actually providing the contracted services.
Use Bench if you like your accounting services like a rollercoaster without the thrill, a puzzle without a solution.
Pros
Simple and easy to use platform interface and features. Consolidated communication in platform.
Cons
Contradicting communication from our point of contact. Multiple changes with our point of contact and main bookkeeper. Charging us 21+ months of billings for accounting and tax services they never provided or actually completed. Bench promising to fix and refund those services and tax filings and then never doing so, over and over fro months. Tax filing errors that we had to discover with a 3rd party accounting firm. If you like getting ripped off, money stolen and then have to hire another accounting firm to fix all the issues they caused, then Bench is for you.
- Industry: Textiles
- Company size: Self Employed
- Used Daily for 1-5 months
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Review Source
Extremely Disappointed with Inaccurate and Incomplete Bookkeeping Services
I signed up for Bench's bookkeeping services in September, expecting professional and accurate records within the 10–15 days they promised for historical bookkeeping. However, nearly two months later, my records remain incomplete, and the work done so far contains hundreds of miscategorized transactions. Despite repeatedly submitting requested documents, my accounts are still inaccurate, and there seems to be no end in sight.
The Terms of Service state they will deliver "accurate monthly books and year-end tax-ready financial packages." Unfortunately, this has not been my experience. For two months in a row, I've received inaccurate monthly books, and I now lack confidence in their ability to complete accurate year-end financials. Had I relied on their data for tax filing, I would have drastically overpaid in taxes.
Despite reaching out and escalating to their management, I’m left with the feeling that this service is not delivering on its promises. I paid over $4,600, and yet I’m now hiring another provider to get the job done correctly.
I rarely leave negative reviews, but I feel obligated to warn others about my experience. I would strongly advise anyone considering Bench to look elsewhere for reliable bookkeeping support.
Pros
There was nothing I liked about bench. They charged me for work not completed.
Cons
They lock you into a 12 month contract and do not bother to do the work accurately.
Response from Bench Accounting
Thank you for sharing your feedback. We’re truly sorry to hear about your experience and understand your frustration. A member of our Client Success team will reach out to you directly to address your concerns and work together toward a resolution.
- Industry: Education Management
- Company size: Self Employed
- Used Monthly for 1+ year
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Review Source
Do Not Recommend
My service has been terrible. I spent over $5000 and do not have access to my books. Customer service was lacking and my bookkeeper would respond to my inquiry on timeline with responses like... I am on it like white on rice. Professionalism, accuracy and commitment to the contract is very lacking.
Pros
I liked the idea of having support and a knowledgeable team to up to date and accurate financials. Unfortunately that was not my experience with Bench.
Cons
I have worked with Bench for over a year and cannot get access to any of my financials. I check in on a daily basis to understand when and how I might get access to my books, but given answers about their three part review process with no explanation or timeline for when I will get my books. After working daily with Bench to get my financials for 2023 for over 5 weeks, I am told the financials will not be ready until after tax season and if I want them to file a tax extension. I could not recommend this service to anyone.